The test series between England and Pakistan certainly seems like an enticing prospect, as England's mercurial young team seeks revenge on a side who beat them last winter. England have strong bowling but a thin batting line-up: Pakistan have a legspinner in Yasir (always a rarity to see in England), Mohammad Amir (back from a lengthy ban after his involvement in match-fixing whilst only a teenager), and in Younis Khan and Misbah ul-Haq, the two oldest batsmen still playing international cricket. And in both my ratings and the official world ratings, the vistors and the home side started the series in 3rd and 4th places respectively, with almost nothing to choose between them. And on Saturday, I was there, watching an absorbing day's cricket in a close match in which Pakistan were almost continuously in front, but never by much. In the end, Yasir's spin was probably the difference between the two sides. England, still without Anderson and Stokes, will get better, but pulling this one back is going to need some batsmen finally finding some form.
So in the ratings we see England lose a place, with ground to make up in the remaing three matches. Before long, Sri Lanka will host Australia, West Indies host India, and New Zealand travel to Zimbabwe, so there's a lot at stake over the next few weeks. But Pakistan have drunk the first blood of the high summer.
Australia 166
India 116
Pakistan 110 +17
South Africa 76
England 72 -17
New Zealand 43
Sri Lanka -21
West Indies -75
Bangladesh -172
Zimbabwe -315
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